Food poisoning is also known as a foodborne illness that is caused by consuming food that is contaminated with microorganisms such as bacteria, parasites, viruses, and toxins. Contamination of food can happen in any part of food preparation, processing, and production. Also, it can happen at home during the food preparation and cooking process. This is the reason why homeowners should also practice food safety protocols inside the kitchen from preparation to serving of food for the family. When it happens, there are food poisoning symptoms that one should look out for immediate medical treatment.
1. Common Symptoms
Food poisoning symptoms can range from mild to severe and your body’s reaction also depends on the type of microorganisms that affects your body. The signs may also differ if it is poisoning caused by toxin ingestion. However, common signs are upset stomach, diarrhea, vomiting, fever, stomach pain, and nausea. The effect may take several hours or days before it develops. People who are experiencing severe diarrhea and vomiting are required to take a lot of fluids to avoid dehydration. Some cases need hospitalization and intravenous fluid.
2. Severe Symptoms
It is imperative to know severe signs of food poisoning, so you know if there is a need to call a doctor. Keep in mind that food poisoning can be very dangerous and some cases cannot be treated at home. If there is frequent vomiting and you are having a hard time taking liquids in and there is a presence of blood, then immediately seek medical attention. Diarrhea is a common symptom that can sometimes pass and heal naturally, but if diarrhea lasts for at least 3 days and experience bloody stool, then there is an immediate need for hospitalization.
A deliberating pain in the stomach and a high temperature of 38 C means that the infection may already affect internal organs within the gastrointestinal tract. Severe cases can also lead to neurological symptoms like a tingling sensation, muscle weakness, and blurred vision. If food poisoning duration lasts for several days, it is vital to seek for proper medications.
Severe cases without proper medications can lead to long term complications such as nerve and brain damage, chronic arthritis, and kidney failure.
3. Symptoms According to Sources
The severity and the time that needs to take for the symptoms to occur depend on its source. There are microorganisms that when ingested can make a person sick within a few minutes or hours, but there are some signs that may appear after a few days of ingestion. Food poisoning duration also depends on the source of poison.
The following are signs of food poisoning according to its sources.
Staphylococcus aureus
Staph ingestion can make you sick 30 minutes to 6 hours after exposure. Victims may suffer from vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, and nausea.
Clostridium Perfringens
Symptoms may occur 6 to 24 hours after exposure to the microorganism. One may suffer from diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, and rarely fever.
Salmonella
Symptoms of food poisoning begin 6 hours to 6 days after ingestion and you will suffer from stomach ache, fever, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Norovirus
Victims may start to feel symptoms after 12 to 48 hours after exposure and you may suffer from nausea, stomach cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea are very common.
Clostridium Botulinum
After ingestion of the contaminated canned goods or fermented foods, one may suffer from blurry vision, difficulty in swallowing, speaking and breathing, and muscle weakness and even lead to paralysis. The signs that you may feel will start on the head and will go down to the rest of the body. This microorganism can be very fatal.
Campylobacter
Signs of food poisoning may begin 1 to 4 days after ingestion and you may suffer from watery stools, vomiting, stomach pain, fever, and chills.
Escherichia Coli
Poisoning caused by E. coli can show symptoms after 3 to 4 days after exposure. Victims will suffer from diarrhea or bloody stool in severe cases, stomach pain, vomiting, and there are 5 to 10 percent chances of death due to complications.
Listeria
Signs of listeria poisoning can begin 1 to 4 weeks after ingestion. Adults may experience neck stiffness, convulsion, loss of balance, and headache, while pregnant women will have flu-like symptoms like fever, fatigue, and muscle weakness. This is very dangerous to the mother and the newborn that can even lead to death.
